Page:Some remarkable passages of the life and death of Master Alexander Peden.pdf/25

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pursued for't. I had this account from the said captain John Matthison.

35. About this time he was in a house in the shire of Air, where James Nisbet, yet living in the castle of Edinburgh, can bear witness to the truth of this; at night he was standing before the fire, where he uttered some imprecations upon the cursed inteligenters, who had told the enemy that he was come out of Ireland. When James took him to the place where he was to rest a little, James said, The servants took notice of your imprecations, upon the inteligenters. He said, ye will know to-morrow about 9 o'clock, what ground I have for it; I wish thy head may be preserved; for it will be in danger for me; I'll take my own time and be gone from this house. Sometime in that night he went to a desert place, and darned himself in a moss-bag. The next morning James was going at the harrows, and about 8 of the clock, there was a troop of the enemies surrounding the house; when James saw them he ran for't; they pursued him hard, till he wan to a moss, where they could pursue him no further with horses; they fired upon him, and he having knots upon his hair on each side of his head, one of their bullets took away one of the knots. He ran where Mr Peden was, who said, Oh, Jamie, Jamie, I am glad your head is safe, for I knew it would be in danger. He took his knife & cut awayv the other knot.

36. About this same time be and James Wilson in Douglass, a singular known man to many, was at Airdsmoss; and being together sometime without speaking, as Mr. Peden's ordinar was, when there was an extraordinar thing in his head, they came to Mr. Cameron's grave, where he and other 8 were buried. After sometime sitting on the grave, he gave James a clap on the shoulder with his heavy hand, and said, I am going to tell you a strange tale; James said, I am willing to hear't: he said, This is a strange day, both of sinning and suffering, (as indeed it was, it being killing time, wherein many fainted and could not endure the scorching heat of the persecution; and to some the Lord in his love gave gourds of strength, support and comfort, that keeped them from fainting) but, said he, tho it be a dreadful day it will not last long; this persecution will be stopt within a few years, but I will not see it; & ye're all longing & praying for that day; but when it comes, ye will not crack so much of it as ye trow. And ye're a vain man, James, and many others, with your bits of

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